Johannesburg, September 19, 2025 — FIFA has officially launched disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and midfielder Teboho Mokoena for fielding an ineligible player during their 2-0 win against Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March.
Mokoena is accused of violating the rules after having accumulated two yellow cards—one in a match against Benin in November 2023 and another against Zimbabwe in June 2024—under qualifying competition rules, which triggers an automatic one‐match suspension.
Despite the suspension, he was fielded in the Polokwane fixture vs. Lesotho on 21 March 2025. SAFA and the player were formally notified of the infraction by FIFA in a letter dated 15 September 2025, giving them six days to respond to the charges.
Potential Consequences
If found guilty, South Africa could face:
- A forfeit of the match, which under FIFA rules generally means a 3-0 loss awarded to the non-offending team (Lesotho in this case), regardless of the actual result.
- The loss of three points from their Group C standing.
- Possible additional sanctions, such as fines, or further disciplinary measures against SAFA or the player.
Impact on Group C & Qualification Race
This issue threatens to dramatically alter the standings in CAF Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers:
- Before this case, South Africa was atop the group with 17 points after eight matches. A points deduction would drop them to 14 points, bringing them level with Benin.
- Lesotho, who lost that match, would gain three points under the forfeit ruling, moving from six to nine points.
- Meanwhile, Nigeria and Rwanda are both around 11 points—so the qualification picture becomes tighter. Only the group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup finals.
Reactions and Controversy
- There’s been criticism of FIFA’s delay in opening proceedings, especially from other teams in the group who argue that such delays muddy the qualification process.
- South African officials have admitted there was an error. SAFA has yet to issue a full public statement responding to the charges.
With just two qualifier matches remaining (South Africa vs. Zimbabwe and Rwanda), this case looms large. If the ruling goes against SAFA, South Africa will need not just wins but favourable results elsewhere to retain chances of direct qualification.
Next Steps:
SAFA and Teboho Mokoena have until the deadline specified in FIFA’s letter to respond. After their reply, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will adjudicate the matter and issue a ruling. The decision could be made within weeks—just in time to impact the final qualification matches.
Bottom line:
What was once seen as a firm advantage for South Africa may now unravel—FIFA’s decision could reshape Group C and recalibrate who heads to the 2026 World Cup from Africa.
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